Letter: Strategy meetings should be closed

In his Sept. 5 Viewpoint column "Don't give the boot to rational metro debate," Otis L. Sanford haphazardly confused having a private booze party with a private strategy session. The framers of that strategy session were dealing with how they would conduct their activities in a manner consistent with protocol and how they were going to keep Shelby and Memphis as two entities instead of allowing consolidation to take place.

Sanford complained loudly that former Collierville mayor Linda Kerley was kicked out of that meeting. For the sake of reality, let's say that Sanford and the rest of the bobbling heads of state in the publishing field were holding a strategy session on the future of The Commercial Appeal that they didn't want to become known, publicly, until they were settled in their strategy. In walks the head honcho of the Internet taking notes or interfering with their decision-making by offering unwanted suggestions (called answering any questions).

First, Sanford would not allow such a person (his enemy) in his strategy session. Second, he would not let that person disrupt the session. Third, he would ask him to leave at once.

Strategy sessions are for those who are in agreement -- not for those who differ in their understanding. Just as Sanford did not ask me how to write his column, I did not ask him to tell me what I should say in this letter. That conflict comes after the strategy session has taken place, the column and the letter have been written, and the answer is up for debate.

Removal of the infiltration of the opposition is perfectly within the venue of the members of the strategy session.